03-01-2024, 02:04 PM
Hey there! It sounds like you're diving into the exciting world of NAS, and Synology is indeed a solid choice for your needs. Considering your requirements for file sharing, photo management, surveillance, and running Home Assistant, let's narrow down your options. While the DS224+ is compact, its limitation with only two bays might pose a challenge if you're dedicating one disk to surveillance without redundancy. Instead, I'd recommend considering the DS423+ or DS723+. Both models offer ample storage capacity and performance for your tasks, with the DS723+ featuring a Ryzen CPU, which can handle virtual machines more efficiently. Plus, with their expandability and future-proofing, either of these options should serve you well for years to come. Happy NAS hunting!